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NFL lockout, lack of preparatory training leads to 12 Achilles tendon injuries
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The recent National Football League offseason lockout has taught physicians and players alike an important lesson about preparing athletes for play after a period of reduced activity, according to an editorial recently published in the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
Researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center sports medicine department found 10 Achilles tendon injuries during the first 12 days of training camp and two more in the next 17 days, including the first 2 days of preseason play, according to a press release.
Lead researcher Timothy E. Hewett, PhD, chalks this up to the lack of preparatory preseason conditioning players usually receive between May and July, according to the abstract. The 130-day NFL lockout delayed the opening of training camps and left players with far less time to ready themselves for the rigors of a full season.
“Because these players were locked out, they did not have access to their professional sports medicine team,” Hewett stated in the release. “We really think, based on the data, that it had a huge impact on their readiness to compete. The bottom line is, preparation for play is very important.”
References:
- Myer GD, Faigenbaum AD, Cherny CE, Heidi RS, Jr., Hewett TE. Did the NFL lockout expose the Achilles heel of competitive sports? 2011. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2011.0107.
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